Guitar Emporium

I'm all in favour of payback - not usually money ( its not a commodity I deal in !) but in terms of things we do for each other. Support the show

Fictional hell raisers always get moved on - its a pity they can be so entertaining. Support the show

For the first time in a while I was stuck in traffic for a long time following an accident. Hence the lyric - but also holed up - when you don't want to see anyone. It doesn't change much from when we were young.  Support the show

A lot of driving references at the moment. I'm doing more miles than I would wish at the present. Its a pity because the place I was headed, Buckland Brewer in North Devon - was lovely when I got there as were the people I saw.  Support the show

If you've ever had any mental health issues - and who hasn't ? - you'll know what the Black Dog is. No solutions here I'm afraid - just a lot of sympathy . Support the show

In the UK  a real pre-Christmas tension builds up - as if the end of the world is coming if you don't spend as much as you can on the Christmas holiday - unlike anywhere else in my all too limited experience . Just take it steady ... have a good weekend  Support the show

This a an old blokes reflection on the world of the media again - grumpy old man stuff.... Support the show

This is a second hand tale - My 95 year old Mum retold this when she was trying to get some help. The National Health service - and in particular GP's is not geared to the elderly. Two visits to the surgery / two visits to the chemist later she got a prescription. I am pretty relaxed about most things - but is that really good enough in a 1st world health service ? Maybe its not a 1st world h...

Part of a longer , as yet unfinished piece. Support the show

Toadys piece is quite short although it has taken a while to put together. Its a work in progress. This is a 4 guitar arrangement of the 2nd Movt. There are 6 movements which I'm trying the record. At the moment I'm not convinced it works on the guitar. I'll see how it goes. Support the show

The end of year coming up - reflecting on opportunities taken and missed through the year and what's coming up.  Support the show

From the Scottish Psalter of 1650 which was a  collection of 150 Psalms, based on the text of the 1650 Scottish Psalter, approved by the Church of Scotland .- a setting of the Lords my Shepherd by James Leith Macbeth Bain from 1915. Bobby Charlton  - or should I say Sir Bobby Charlton -  had the piece at his recent funeral. My first real football hero - comb over or not. A survivor of the 1958 Mun...

The title for me brings up memories of the all too short life of Nick Drake. This isn't really referring to Nick Drake - other than in the title. The song is about outsiders who have a view of the world that doesn't really conform. To most of us their view is irrelevant self indulgence. Support the show

I suddenly realised on listening back to this that its a bit patronising . Honestly its not meant to be - because its a reference to things I read and get presented with - and - this is the worst of it - I'm meant to believe. Hopefully others see it the same way. Support the show

A lot of my work now is remote - that is working from home . There are many advantages - I much prefer it to the office. But some workmates find they lose touch with that old chestnut - "Office Politics". One of them has decided to move on because he has lost the ear of the "bossman" - what a pity Support the show

In previous tunes I continually refer to the night - I think I have a mild obsession with the hours of darkness.  The Watches of the Night were 3 in number in the Old Testament but seem to have become 4 in Roman Times. I've mixed them up with sailors watches = lookouts/ navigation - as well as vague religious references to miracles from the New Testament. Support the show

Christmas is coming in the Uk and although there's is a cost of living crisis ( mainly for the young and the low paid ) Tory voters look to have survived OK. The chorus sounds like Wishing Well by that great band Free - my apologies - it was unintended. Support the show

Just a comment on the movement into Winter as the days and nights in the UK get colder and so much darker. Support the show

This is not recorded in response to Fiona the sheep - a big deal in the British press- where a sheep which had been stranded at the foot of a cliff in Scotland for two years was recovered by five young farmers . the good news is the sheep has survived the ordeal . I was always going to record this beautiful piece. The wikipedia bit is ..."Sheep may safely graze" (German: Schafe können si...

I've been teaching some Taylor Swift songs to some pupils - the song Fearless came up and also Crazier - they are just so catchy .. Anyway from Taylor we get Tailor - and then my tailor. I live off the charity shops - have done for a long time. Love 'em . Don't love the rather snooty middle age ladies who still work as "sales assistants" - busy looking down their noses at...

There is always some one not as well off ...and that certainly is the case at the moment. The motto for the time being - be grateful for what you have - essentially if you're alive fit and loved - you've got it made. Enjoy it. Support the show

I know he composed a huge amount of music and some question the quality on occasions - but I love Vivaldis music . This is a piece I've played, arranged, taught and re-thought a number of times . Its part of a Christmas project- that I'll try and complete before Christmas Support the show

Another take on Mudarra's Fantasie - I'm less impressed with this version. The idea was much better than the eventual end product. Support the show

I think the original phrase is "Time and Tide wait for no man". Like lots of people I partially remember bits of poetry I was meant to learn properly at school. I thought this was one of them - I have heard it quoted so many times.  Apparently its an old saying going back as far as 13th century - is that right ?  The word tide is a time reference also to a period of time apparently ( Whi...

The complete overture for the piece to include the second bit of the Messiah Overture. I've increased the speed of the Grave section and likewise increased the speed of the Allegro Moderato section . The reasons are the same for both sections. The guitar doesn't sustain like a violin so I want to give some impression of energy - particualrly  the Allegro moderato section. This is a"...